Motor-driven traveling-crane mechanism



Jan. '18 1927. 1,615,1 15

E. DURHAN, JR

MOTOR DRIVEN TRAVELING CRANE MECHANISM Filed May 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheetl Jan. 18, 1927.

E. DURHAN, JR

IIOTOR DRIVEN TRAVELING CRANE MECHANISM Filed y 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD DURHAN, JR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRICCOMPANY, INCORPORATED,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTOR-DRIVEN TRAVELING-CRANE MECHANISM.

Application filed May 8,

This invention relates to devices for handling material, and moreparticularly to devices capable of being readily manipulated andcontrolled to suit varying conditions.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a device forhandling material which may be efficiently and expeditiously manipulatedfor moving and lifting objects of various sizes.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction andan arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter describedand particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an end elevational View of the conventional form of travelingcrane showing my improved mechanism embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed elevational view partly in section of myimproved form of carriage, and

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the lines 3-3 in Fig. 2showing the construction of my improved lifting elements or arms.

In carrying out my invention I have shown the same in connection with aconventional form of traveling crane which comprises the usual travelingbridge 10 provided with suitable trucks 11 on its opposite ends whichtravel in the channels of the opposite I beams 12 of the main supporting structure of the crane. Suspended below the traveling bridge,preferably at one end thereof, is the usual operators cab 13 of any wellknown construction. Mounted to travel longitudinally of the bridgestructure 10 is a trolley 14 of the usual construction which is mounted'on suitable truck wheels 15, which travel on the bridge 10. Suspendedbelow the bridge 10 by a cable 16 extending from suitable pulleys (notshown) mounted in the trolley 14 is my improved construction of acarriage 17 One of the important features of my invention is theprovision of a construction in which the carriage is adapted to rotateabout a swivel connection for properly aligning itself in a positionwhere the lifting elements or arms may properly engage the hubs of thereels to be lifted. This mechanism comprises a swivel bolt 18 which isheld in suspended position in a trans- 1925. Serial No. 28,782.

versely extending swivel member 19. The swivel member 19 is providedwith o positely extending aligned studs 20 Whic in turn are pivotallymounted in vertically extending oppositely disposed straps 21. The upperends of the straps 21 are preferably supported on a horizontal shaft 22which in turn has journalled thereon two pulleys 23, which are operatedby the cable 16 extending from the trolley 14. The com lete car riage 17is rotated or swung about t e swivel bolt 18 for adjusting the liftingelements or arms to their proper positions for engaging the hubs of thereels, by an electric motor 24 which is mounted on a suitable support25. The motor 24 is connected directly to the worm 26, which in turn, isin mesh with the worm wheel 27 secured to the lower end of the swivelbolt in any well known manner. The carriage 17 is suspended from thebolt by a bracket 28 which has its lower end Secured to the transverse.channel or main frame members 29 and its upper end apertured to receivethe swivel bolt 18. In order to permit the free rotation of the carriageon the swivel bolt 18 suitable anti-friction bearings 30 may beinserted. From this construction it will be understood that with theelectrical connections running from the motor 24 to the operator in thecab 13, the rotary adjustment and control of the carriage may be readilyhad.

Another important feature of my improved crane construction is the widerange of horizontal and recti-linear adjustments of the lifting elementsor arms for accommodating reels of various sizes. This con structioncomprises the positioning and supporting of two shafts 31 on theopposite sides of the main frame member 29 of the carriage. Each ofthese shafts is provided at one end with left hand threads and at theother end with right hand threads and extreme outer ends thereof arejournalled in suitable bearings 32 and 33.

Mounted for recti-linear adjustment and controlled by the rotaryadjustment of the shafts 31. are the oppositely disposed liftingelements or arms 34 and 35. These lifting arms 34 and 35 are preferablyplaced in threaded engagement with the threaded shafts 31 by positioningsuitable nuts 51 and 52 in the upper ends of these arms and securingthem against displacement from the arms in any suitable manner. Thelower nuts 52 are preferably mounted in longitudinal slots 53 in thelifting arms so as to accommodate any variation which may arise betweenthe two threaded shafts. The lower ends of the lifting arms 34 and 35are provided with inwardly extending lugs 36 which are adapted to engagethe hubs of a reel 37. The weight carried by each of the arms 34 and 35is directly supported by two pairs of tapered rollers 38 and 39 whichare journalled in brackets 40 on the opposite sides of and. support andretain these rollers in the opposite channels 29 of the main frame ofthe carriage as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the lower horizontalarms of the channels serving as trackways along which the rollers 38 and39 roll. The lifting arms 34 and 35 are adjusted to and from each otherby an electric motor 41 in a housing 42 which in turn is secured to themain frame 29 in any well known manner. J ournalled within the housing42 and operatively driven by the shaft of the motor 41 is a shaft 43.The shaft 43 has secured at its upper and lower ends two pinions 44 and45, respectively, which in turn mesh with gears 46 and 47, respectively.The gears 46 and 47 are secured to one end of each of therotatableshafts 31, respectively. From the above construction it will ofcourse be understood that suitable'wiring connections extend from themotor 41 to the cab 13 of the crane from which the control of the motormay be had by the operator for adjusting the lifting arms or elements.It will further be understood that operatively driving the shaft 43 inone direction or the reverse controls the adjustment of the lifting armsto and from each other for accommodating the arms to the different sizedreels to be lifted.

In order to balance the carriage, by reason of the motor 41 beingpositioned on one end thereof, I have provided a counter-balanced weightchamber 48 which may be filled with any substance to suitablycounter-balance the carriage frame.

From the above description it will be readily understood that by reasonof my im proved construction of traveling crane mechanism the operatorin the cab of the crane may control and adjust the recti-linear movementof the lifting arms as well as suitably control the rotation of thecarriage about a vertical axis so as to properly align 'the liftingelements with the hubs of the reel to be lifted and in addition thereto,may vertically adjust the carriage for lifting the reels.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment whichmy invention may assume inpractice, it will of course be understood thatthe same is capable of modification and that modification may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas expressedin the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for handling material,a traveling carriage, means forrotatably sup porting the carriage, an arm adjustably mounted on thecarriage for movement in a recti-linear direction for engaging material,means including ashaft journaled on the carriage and operativelyassociated with the arm for adjusting the arm, and means for rotatingthe carriage about its support.

2. In a device for handling material, a. traveling carriage, means forrotatably supporting the carriage, a plurality of arms adjustablymounted on the carriage for engaging material, means including aplurality of shafts journaled on the carriage and having portionsthreaded in opposite directions and operatively connected to the armsfor adjusting the arms with respect to each other, and means forrotating the carriage about its support.

3. In a device for handling material, a traveling carriage provided withtrackways, means for rotatably supporting the carriage, a plurality ofarms for engaging material, means including a threaded shaft journaledon the carriage and operatively connected to the arms, means forrotating said shaft for causing a lateral movement of the arms, andmeans for rotating the carriage about its support.

4. In a device for handling material, 3, traveling carriage providedwith trackways, means for rotatably supporting the carriage,

a plurality of arms for engaging material, means including a pluralityof shafts journaled on the carriage and having portions 105 threaded inopposite directions and operatively connected to the arms for adjustingthe arms with respect to each other, means for rotating the carriageupon its support, and means supported on the carriage for retating thethreaded shafts.

5. In a device for handling material, a traveling carriage provided withhorizontally disposed trackways, means for rotatably supporting thecarriage, a plurality of laterally adjustable lifting arms, rollersjournaled at the upper ends thereof and arranged to roll upon thetrackways, a threaded shaft journaled on the carriage and operativelyconnected with the arms for adjusting the arms with respect to eachother, and means for rotating the carriage about its support, said meanscarried upon the carriage.

6. In a device for handling material, a traveling carriage, means forrotatably supporting the carriage, a pair of depending arms adjustablymounted on the carriage for engaging material, means including a pair ofhorizontally disposed shafts journaled on horizontally disposedtraveling frame, means for rotatably supporting the frame, a pluralityof dependlng arms for engaging material, means including a horizontallydisposed threaded shaft journaled on the frame and operatively connectedto the arms, means disposed at one end of the shaft and frame forrotating the shaft for causing a lateral movement of the arms, meanscarried at the opposite end of the frame for maintaining the frame in ahorizontal plane, and means for rotating the frame about its support.

8. In a device for handling material, a horizontally disposed travelingframe, means for rotatably supporting the frame, a plurality of lateraladjustable lifting arms mounted on said fi-ame, rollers journaled on theupper ends of said arms and engageable with said frame, means includinga threaded shaft mounted on said frame and operatively connected withsaid arms for adjusting said arms with respect to each other, and meansfor rotating said carriage.

9. In a device for handling material, a horizontally disposed travelingframe, means for rotatably supporting the frame, a plurality oflaterally adjustable lifting arms mounted on said frame, a rollerjournaled on the upper end of each of said arms, and engageable withsaid frame, a threaded shaft mounted on said frame and operativelyconnected with said arms, a vertically disposed power driven shaftcarried by said frame and geared to said first mentioned shaft forlaterally adjusting said lifting arms to and from each other, and meansfor rotating said carriage.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 45 my name this 30th day ofApril, A. D., 1925.

EDWARD DURHAN, JR.

